Staal speed way above stall speed

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This article was published 08/10/2016 (3269 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — If Eric Staal has any sage advice for young NHL players, it’s to savour every moment of the wild ride that’s ahead.

That’s exactly what he’s doing now with the Minnesota Wild.

“The years go by fast. You’re always told that, especially when you’re young and just starting out. And it’s no lie,” Staal said Saturday. “I’ve been fortunate to be with some great teams and organizations and experienced some amazing things, and I’m excited because this is a great chance to start a second chapter, hopefully.”

Staal, a free agent following a mediocre 2015-16 season split between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, signed a three-year, US$10.5-million deal with the Wild July 1.

The 31-year-old centre, who has 929 NHL contests under his belt (registering 325 career goals and 456 assists), owns a Stanley Cup ring and an Olympic gold medal, said he’s having a blast in his new surroundings, just six hours from his home town of Thunder Bay, Ont.

He’s grateful for a chance to jumpstart his career.

“To be able to join a group that established with great players already and jump in and ride alongside, it’s going to be something I’m looking forward to and it’s going to be fun,” he said. “I feel this is a team that has the potential to do a lot of great things. I don’t want to just be a part of it, I want to be a big part of it.

“I’m excited for training camp to end and the real stuff to begin.”

The real stuff started for Staal when the Hurricanes picked him second overall in the 2003 NHL Draft after three brilliant season with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League.

He jumped right into the Carolina lineup that fall and tallied 11 goals and chipped in 20 helpers in 81 games in his rookie season.

The next year, he finished with 77 points with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, and then followed up with his own monster 2005-06 campaign in Raleigh, N.C., registering 45 goals and 100 points during the regular season and another 28 points in the post-season as the ’Canes knocked off the Edmonton Oilers in the championship final.

He was close to being a perennial point-a-game producer for Carolina for the next eight seasons until he dropped to 54 points two seasons ago and then 39 in 2015-16, including six in 20 games with New York after the Rangers acquired him near the NHL trade deadline in February.

Staal, 6-4, 205 pounds, played on the Rangers’ third line but firmly believes he’s still a Top-6 guy. He’s getting that chance under Wild head Bruce Boudreau.

Saturday night, he skated between right-winger Charlie Coyle and left-winger Zach Parise when the Wild faced the Winnipeg Jets.

“I think we complement each other with different attributes. We’re good at stripping pucks and being aggressive,” said Staal. “If we simplify the game and be in attack-type mode offensively, I think we’ll see some good things happen.”

Boudreau, in his first year behind the Wild bench, said Staal has had an impressive training camp and looks like he hasn’t lost a step.

“The No.1 thing is everybody told me he’s slowed down and I don’t see him having lost a step from when I coached against him in Washington,” Boudreau said.

“Every drill that we’ve done skating-wise, he’s led. That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen from him, so that’s been a pleasant surprise. If skating was coming as his downfall, if people were saying that, I don’t think it’s an issue.

“He knows how to play. He takes direction well. You tell him once and he knows what he’s doing. Now, it’s just a question of that line getting chemistry and playing together a little more often.”

Staal played most of four seasons (2012-16) in Carolina with his younger brother, Jordan, and the two shared a pair of games in Carolina with brother, Jared, during the 2012-13 season. Eric also joined his brother, Marc, on the Rangers roster in the spring.

He said it feels a bit weird not seeing another Staal stall in the dressing room.

“It’s different, but we’ll in touch like we always have and keep tabs on each other,” he said. ‘I will miss that part of it, going to battle with them every day and being in the same boat with them. Still, hopefully, we have long careers ahead and you never know what can happen.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca Twitter:@WFPJasonBell